Closure for receptacles



1937. P. M. THORN I CLOSURE FOR REcEPTAcLEs Filed July 21, 19:32 A 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .IIWi

INVENTO Percy M Thor/7 ATTOQNEt Oct. 5, 1 937. P. M. THORN 2,

CLOSURE FOR RECEPTACLES Filed July 21, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR- ATTORNEY V Patented Oct. 1937 v I 2,095,042

2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,095,042 i h CLOSURE FOR REcEPrAcLE's Percy M. Thom, Reading, Conn. Application July 21, 1932, Serial No. 623,157

14; Claims. (01. 221-60) This invention relates to closures for reconnection with the accompanying drawings, in ceptacles. which: i i

It is an object of this invention to provide a Figure 1 is a sectional view of the upper portion .new and improved closure of the type which of a tube, adapted to be provided with a closure may be easily opened without removing any in accordance with this invention but having 5 separable parts, which when closed, will be subupp r Po t ons emoved to show the base constantially leak proof and which will remain leak st u t on. proof substantially throughout the life of the Figure 2 is a ctional V w similarv to Figure 1 device, and which may beused repeatedly withbut with the upper portions of h the closure in out smearing the contents of the receptacle over p I th t i of th leg Figure 3 is a modified construction adapted'for It is a further object to provide a new and imuse Particularly Where e e t ghtness is deproved closure which will be simple to manusiredfacture and reliable and'durable in its operation. ll e4 is a plan w Of the device of Figlll' It is a further object t provide a w and lbut with'the shutter element added. 15 improved device having a central opening pro- Figure 5 is a i n oi a further modification i d th closure which may be easily opened with the top portions of the closure removed. and closed by a simple manipulation of the head. This modificaticln is p d to be used as a It is a further object to provide a new and [separate att hment to a container.

2o improved cl r h h may b d i a form Figure 6 is a-further modification adapted for and of materials to resist a. wide variety of liquids use as a separate attachment for a t i e b t a d fl id and h h il b composed of f making provision for a particularly tight closure. parts of a nature to be readily assembled for- Figure modification 0f e structure t t t1 shown in Figure 3, showing a different method of It is a further object to provide a new and imeffecting the u t 25 proved closure which when used with a plastic Figure 315 a fi d f01'm 0 t e c su e showmass such as tooth paste 0r ointment may be 111g 8, different form 0f valve WhiCh is adapted f0! caused to cut ofi the extruded material from the certain Particular s container without the necessity of touching it Figure 9 s a sectional view-of .a modification with the fingers. for clamping upon 'an'crdinary bottle. I 30 It is a further object to provide a new and im- F ure 10 is a similar view of a further modifiproved closure which may be adapted to av wide cationvariety of uses either withfiuids such for example Figures 11 d 12 are P d se o al views as toilet water, or glycerine, or with plastic subfurthermodification ad p especially v stances such as salves or tooth paste and which Pouring quids- 35 may be applied to different types of containers Referring ow more particula ly "to Fi ures 1 whether bottles, cans or tubes, and which may and 2, e nume al l0 designates a container, be built into the container as a part thereof or which y be the Ordinary p o s metal which may be constructed as a separate element tube p y for Containing tooth Paste 40 tobe attached thereto, Y ointments or other similar products. At the 0 It is a further object to provide a new and impp portion eOntaJneI is P d W th 1 proved closure which will have a, mi imum of base member for the closure comprising a neck working parts and which may be assembled with H having at its p n end substantially flat q a minimum of machine work upon the part member l2 which closes the container savefor a Other objects of the invention will in part be central opening I3. I Immediately surrounding 45 obvious and will in part appear hereinafter; the opening l3 and concentric with it is an annu- The invention accordingly comprises an article lar bos's l4 adapted to Se v a Shutter bea of manufacture possessing the features, propersurface. x h I h ties, .and the relation of elements which will be On'the outer periphery of the flat member .12 is exemplified in the article hereinafter described an annular'boss 15 which, in the form illustrated, 50 and the scope of the application of which will be extends above the boss H by an amount someindicated in the claims. I l what greater than the thickness of the shutter For a fuller understanding of the nature and and hereafter to be described. a objects of the invention, reference should be had A form of thebosses I I and I5 leaves an anto the following d ta led d s p n ken in polar recess l6 between them and within this 55 recess there is atcne point a radial slot it me outer surface of the neck H has an annular groove ll, defining an annular bead or rib Ila. Hounted upon the base of the closure is a-cup shaped cap member it having a m, ahuttsrbearingsm'iaceandtopermitireerotationoiiheeap a meupshapedmember ilalso'has a c?- lindricaiwallllextending'overthebeadorrib its, theloweredgesoithisjwallbeing spunis preierably'dished inwardly toward the openingaaahowliataniiupontheuriilersirleoi'this'v 'ilatportionthereispmvidedabossllextending downwardlytowardtheboss lloftheilat member lltop'rovidebstween thebossesa channel for themovementofashuttermember. The flat portioniloi'thecupahapedmember llisprovided witha smallhole Iluponits undersurq i'ace.

'Ihe shutter member comprises in general a the head is rotated, the position shown the position shown line to the dotted to form a. complete bearing surfaces i4 7 bosses it," andilissuch thatthebosses .and II bearuponboth races of the shutter with suillcient force to maintain also that it extenih slightly above the lower oi the shuter and the neck container completely around the opening.

' This i'orlnot theinvention makes it possible apply the invention directly to containers or other aimilarsubstances which arediimachinetoaccirate siae. and the resil- Itoi'thereceasil andbearsresiliently= I 9,095,049 I w I I I cap II which isishaped tcreceive the shutter and cap member it as previously described, but this separate cap is itsel! provided with some means of attaching it direct to the bottle. To

this end it may be cemented on or, as illustrated.

it may be provided with :iemale threads 1 adapted to mate with male threads upon the neck of the bottle. Even where these threads are provided, however, it may be'desirable to cement the cap in place. In the illustration of this modification the head and shutter are not shown-in place because the assembly is similar to that shown in Figure 2.

Themodincation shown-inl'lsure dissimilar tothatshown inl'igure that is, inthis modincation there is also provided a separate cap which may be attached to. the top of a container or bottle. In this modification, however. the flat portion I! has an opening 40 out much larger than theopeningliinthebottle'orinthehead IO, and within this opening I there is provided asuitabie washer ii in the form of a ilat annular ring, having acentral opening Ito substantially equal in diameter to the opening it in'the bottle neckandin the headanditsouter diametersuch as cause it to at snugly within the opening I.

This form of the invention is adapted particularly for use where the container is 0! glass or other material dlfllcult accurately to shape, since withthis i'ormwe needonlysee'that'the top face 0! the neck or the bottle is substantially flat and that the washer I is of the right length along its axis properly to bear up on the-bottle and the shutter, as under such conditions when the cspisscrewed nrmlyin place upon the top otthebottlewiththeilatmemberilbearingv upon thetop of the bottle, the washer I will exert just the predetermined pressure upon the underiace'oi the shutter to eii'ect a tight Joint.

In the form c t-the invention illustrated in Figure I there is provided a resilient washer l4 resting upon the end of the heck of the container and the shutter 21 moves upon this washer,

being held in place and moved by the capmember as in the previous tom A suitable slot Ila is cut through the washer to accommodate the pin 20. The container itself may be provided with an annular boss 4| surrounding the central opening to cause the washer to'bear firmly against the shutter clear around the opening.

In this figure there is also illustrated a slightly diiierent'construction inthatthe upstanding boss ll oi'rthe former constrimtions is replaced by a shoulder 43 within the cap member which bears upon the list suri'ace oi thetop oi the container and provides the necessary rigidity and spacing oithe partswhichisachievedinthe former modiilcationsbythebossil. Thisstllli'urtherreduces the labor of fabrication of the container which is of importance particularly when the container is made oi'sosne brittle substance such asglass. 'I'hisieaturec'anoicoursebeused-with any oi the embodiments of the .invention when The shutter illustrated in Figure 8 is similar to theshutter ilinailrespectsexceptthatitisarrangedwithanopeningliawhichinoneeatreme the opening Ii. but which when rotated to the dotted line position. clearly closes the wiormoishuttermaybeutilisedwhendesirl 'ormanymrposesitisdairablesotoarrange thedevicethattheshutterwillbeheldinthe 'positionlsadaptedtobeinoompleteregistrywith closedv position during shipment, but may be thereafter readily opened without inconvenience to the purchaser. To achieve this result the head is arranged to be releasably held in the closed position. As illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, an indentation may bemade in the base member, as

for example a notch 46, in such a manner that as the cap is spun into place, the material of the cap, as shown at 41, tends to enter the notch-to hold the cap from twisting during shipment, but the initial twist with the fingers will readily bend the projection back into the normal plane and thereafter the cap may be readily opened and closed. If desired, thisprojection can be again bent into the notch if the tube is to be carried as in a suit case.

From the foregoing construction it will be clear that a container is provided which is simple and durable both in construction and in operation. It has no exposed operating parts and hence may be kept thoroughly cleaned inside and out. It is adapted for use with containers of varying sorts and in eachinstance may be caused to make a closure of any degree of tightness desired and by reason of the fact that the openings are in direct alinement with the center of the tube, it may be used in the extrusion of grease and ointmentseven of a very viscous character and yet may be readily Moreover, the shutter element, particularly with a plasticor viscous substance, tends to cut off the extruded material without the necessity of making contact between an instrument such as a tooth brush or the flngersand either the mouth of the container or the material within the container.

It will be obvious that the pin and slot connection may be placed on either end of the shutter when desired, and if desired, the pins may be upon the supporting members, and openings left in the shutter to receive them.

I prefer ordinarily, however, to place the pins in the shutter member as it provides a more suitclosed when desired.

able structure.

In the. form of the invention illustrated in Figure 9, the device is adapted forapplication to an ordinary bottle in that the neck II 'is attached to a cap 50 having some suitable fastening means for direct attachment to the bottle,as for example, it may be provided with a depending fluted skirt 5| which may be attached to the bottle by crimping around the bead 52 of the bottle neck in the usual manner, there being provided a cork washer 53 between the top of the bottle 54 and the neck I l The closure itself may be of any of the types heretofore discussed.

In the .form of .the invention illustrated in Figure 10, there is provided another structure which also may be attached direct to the bottle .in which the bottle neck 55 having the usual bead 56, has drilled in its upper surface an opening 51 to receive the pin 58 of the shutter 59, this shutter having its other pin 60 fitted within a slot 6| within the cap. The capitself is provided with a shoulder 62 adapted to bear upon the top of the bottle neck 55 and lying within the cap is a metallic member 63 having a central opening 64, to receive a resilient washer 65. In this form of the invention the pin 51 extends through a hole in the washer 63 into the. recess 58.

In this form of the invention it is preferable to make a pin and slot connection between the cap and shutter rather than between the shutter tate the pouring of liquids from the container and to this end the structure is provided with two openings.

formed integral with the cap 12, while a small opening 13 is arranged to permit the entrance of air. Each of the openings I0 and I3 passes completely and directly through the cap, shutter and base in the open position, but both are closed by the same movement of the shutter by twisting the cap.

' It is preferable to .make the smaller opening nearer to the pivot of the shutter to the base,

since in this way the larger opening is at the point where the greatest linear movement of the shutter takes place, making it easier to close the wider pe r In this embodiment it is preferable to provide a shutter seat around each of the openings" and 13 so that a liquid tight joint will be provided at both openings.

Since certain changes may be made in the abcv construction and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown. in

the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood .that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall between. i

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A closure for a container comprising in combination a base member upon said container having an annular cap-bearing surface facing away from the container, a cap member, said base member and said cap member having each a registering opening concentric with said bearing surface, said cap member having a bearing surface mating with said cap-bearing surface whereby said cap is rotatable on said base member and defines a recess between them, a shutter enclosed within said recess and connected to each of said members,

The-opening 10, designed for the re-' *moval'of the liquid, is provided with a spout H to be movable by the rotation of the cap member to open and close said opening, a shutter-bearing surface surrounding the said opening in said base member and extending upwardly toward the shutter above the level of the recess and means upon the cap member to urge said shutter into contact with said shutter-bearing surface. v

2. A closure of the character described for use on a container comprising in combination a base member having a centrally disposed opening therethrough, a cup-shaped cap fitting over said base member and rotatable thereon about the axis of the opening and defining a recess between them, said cap having an opening in registry with the opening in said base and tapering to athin edge from the periphery toward said opening and presenting a concave upper surface, a shutter within said recess between said cap and said base member operatively connected to both whereby a rotary motion of said cap will move said base member to open or close said opening and-there being arim surrounding "the central opening of said base member extending above the level of. said recess and the thin edge of said cap being adapted to press the shutter into contact with the rim. v

- 3. A closure'of the character described for use on a container comprising in combination a base ber .the container havinga centrally' shutter disposed between said cap and said base member bearing upon said shutter-beaiing surface and operatively connected to said cap and basememberwhel'ebyapartialrotarymotionof said cap will move said shutter over said shutterbearingsm'iacetociosetheopeningandmeans upon said cap for maintaining said shutter in intimate contact with said shutter-bearing surface throughout the periphery of the-latter when said shutter-is closed. a

4. Aclosureofthecharacterdeacribcdforuse on a container comprising a base member having acentralopeningtherethrough.arecessinsaid base member immediately surrounding said opening,aresilientwashercarriedinsaidrecessand extending slightly above the surrounding surface of the base member to form a, shutter-bearing surface, a cup-amped cap fitting over said base member and having a centrally disposed'opening in substantial registry with the opening in said base member, a shutter mounted between said base and said cap in contact with said shutter-bearing surface and operatively connected both to said base member and to said cap, whereby a slight rotary movement of said cap will move said shutter to open and close said openingQand means upon said cap for maintaining contact between said shutter and said shutterbearing surface. I

6. A closure of the character described for use on a container, comprising in combination a base member having a central opening therethrough, araisedresilientwashercarriedinareceminsaid base to form a shutter-bearing surface immediately surrounding said opening, a cap-bearing surface substantially at the periphery of said base member, both of said surfaces being concentric with said opening, a cup shaped cap embracing said base member, rotatable upon said washer and having an opening in registry with the opening in said base member, a shutter enclosed between said base member and said cap operatively connected to both whereby a rotation of said cap will move said shutter over said shutter-bearing surface to open and close said opening, means for retaining said cap in .place for rotation upon said peripheral cap-bearing surface andmeans upon said cap for maintaining said shutter in close contact with said shutter-bearing surface whenintheclosedposition.

6.Aclosm'eofthecharacterdescribedforuse on a container comprising in combination a base membercomprisingatopportionoftheneckof the container having acentral opening and an annularrec'essaroundits-outer edge.acup-shaped capembracingtheend ofsaidneek andhaving anannularbearingsurface in engagement there-' withtoresistmovementalongtheasisofthe opening,ashutteroperativelyccnnectedtosaid neckandtosaidcapwherebyarotarymovement ofthecapwilimovetheshutterintoandoutof registrywithsaidopeningandaresilientannular washerforesertingprcssurebetweentheneckof 'saidcontainer aroundtheperipheryofssidopeningandsaidshutteswhenthelatterisinregistry 'i. Aclosureofthecharacterdescribedforuse onacontainer comprisinginabase memberadaptedtobeappiicdtothencflofsaid container, said member having an opening in registry with and provided at its upper side with a recess substantially larger than the opening in the neck of said container, a cup-shaped cap embracing said base member and having an opening in registry with and smaller in diameter than the diameter of said recess. an annular resilient washer having its internal diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the recess, fitting within the opening in the base member and a vshutter mounted between said washer and said cap and operatively connected to said cap and to said basemember whereby a partial rotation of mid cap will move-said shutter between open and closed positions.

8. A closure for containers comprising in combination a base member, a cap member rotatable on said base member-and defining a recess between them. there being registering openings in said base and said cap member. a shutter movable within said recess to open and close said openings and said base member having a rim raised above the level of said recess immediately surrounding the opening therein and having a substantially fiat surface to engage said shutter.

9. A closure for containers comprising in combination a base member. a cap member rotatable on said base member'and defining a recess between them', there being registering openings in said base and said cap member, a shutter movable within said recess to open and close said openings and said base member having a rim raised above the level of said recess immediately surrounding the opening therein and having a substantially fist surface to engage said shutter,

10.A closure for containers comprising in combination a base member upon said container, a

cap member upon said base member, one of said members having an annular rim extending above its surface projc ting toward the other member to form a narrow concentric bearing surface transverse to the axis of the closure, the area of said bearing surface 'being materially less than the area of the member inside of said surface, and the other of. said members having a bearing surface mating with said first mentioned surface whereby there is formed between said members a recess having a substantially circular peripheral-wall, a shutter having one of its ends pivotally fixed to one or said members and the other end pivoted to the other of said members, both of said pivots being enclosed within said cap, said shutter being substantially the thickness of the depth of the recess in the immediate vicinity of the opening. and means to hold said members with said bearing surfaces in contact, whereby the poutionof said cap member is maintained against tilting by the engagement of said bearing surfaces and a predetermined and relatively fixed pressure may be maintained between theshutterandthehasememberadiacenttothe' opening.

'lL A closure of the character described for within said embracing the end of the base member bearing against said cap bearing surface, said cap member having lateral walls bent over into said groove to retain said cap member in place for rotary motion without axial lost motion, a shutter carried between said cap and said base member of larger area than said shutter bearing surface, operatively connected to said cap, and movable to open or closed position, and means upon said cap to keep said shutter in firm contact with said shutter bearing surface when in closed position.

12. A closure for containers comprising in combination a base member, and a cap member mounted on said base member and defining a. recess between them; there being registered openings in said base member and cap member, a shutter movable within said recess to open and close said openings, means for moving said shutter, said base member having a rim raised above' the level of the recess, immediately surrounding the opening therein and having a substantially fiat surface to engage said shutter and means upon said cap immediately above said rim for pressing said shutter against said rim.

13. A closure for a container comprising in combination a base member, a cap member upon the base member, said members having two sets vent tilting of the cap member, said base mem- -ber and said cap member having substantially.

parallel and flat spaced surfaces, a shutter of substantially uniform thickness between said flat surfaces, and said flat surfaces having registering openings in position to register witha correspondingv opening in the shutter in one position of the latter and said flat surfaces being of such contour as to exert greater pressure upon the shutter at the edges of the opening and means for moving said shutter.

14. A closure for containers comprising in combination a base member, and a cap member mounted on said base member and'deflning a recess between them; there being registered openings in said base member and cap member, a shutter movable within said recess to open and close said openings, means upon rotation of said cap member for moving said shutter, said base member having a rim raised above the level of the recess, immediately surrounding the opening therein and having a substantially flat surface to engage said shutter and means upon said cap immediately above said rim for pressing said shutter against said rim.

PERCY M. THORN. 

